Pelion High Graduate Named First-Team All-American

CLEMSON - Clemson center Dalton Freeman was recently named First-Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association.

Freeman, a Pelion High School graduate, was the first Clemson center to make a First-Team All-America team.

"This is a landmark accomplishment," said Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney. "Dalton in particular with his 48 consecutive starts, has been the cornerstone of the offensive line as the only senior."

Freeman has started all 12 games at center this year and has a streak of 48 in a row entering Clemson's bowl game.  When he makes his 49th start he will tie the Clemson career record held by his former teammate Landon Walker, who started 49 games at tackle from 2008-11.

Freeman has played more snaps than any other player in Clemson history (3,267), a record he set in the win over NC State this year when he played 102 plays.  Freeman made first-team All-ACC this year, the second straight year he has achieved that honor.  He is the first two-time first-team All-ACC center in Clemson history.  He is also the first four-year starter at center for Clemson since the 1940s.

Quarterback Tajh Boyd also named First-Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. 

"You don't see your program getting two first-team All-Americans very often (although Clemson did do it last year as well)," Swinney said. "Both young men have been great leaders for our program for more than just this year.  We really have a young team with just 11 scholarship seniors."

Last year Dwayne Allen and Sammy Watkins were both named first-team All-Americans by Associated Press.  This is the first time since 1986-87 that Clemson has had two first-team All-Americans in consecutive years.

Boyd and Freeman are major reasons Clemson ranks fourth in the nation in passing efficiency, fourth in touchdowns, sixth in scoring, eighth in total offense and 13th in passing offense. The Tigers have established school records for passing efficiency, total offense, touchdowns scored and total points scored this year.

Courtesy Clemson Sports Information.